Is the Energizer Bunny doing what rabbits do best?

[Phi for All]

I know only a few things about common batteries (Cs, Ds, AAs, etc), so I need some help here. Besides providing an electrochemical source of electrons, what I do know is that:

1) they seem to be made from some pretty common materials,

2) they cost an awful lot of money,

3) they don't last very long,

4) they tend to "brown-out" toward the end rather than giving a steady charge and then just quitting.

 

The only conspiracy theories I usually believe in are marketing ones. Are batteries overpriced for the materials used? Is there a way to make them drain at a constant rate so you don't throw them away with a bit of charge left (it's particularly annoying with flashlights; the same battery that makes a flashlight glow at half-brightness will still power a radio for a while). I've used rechargeables and they have an even shorter lifespan, and after a while refuse to hold a charge at all.

 

Am I just being cheap here or are the battery companies screwing us over?

[kitten]

I've found that rechargable batteries differ. I have a couple of sets and some last way longer than others. I can't really tell if there's any difference between the longer lasting batteries and the shorter lasting ones other than price. I always use rechargable batteries as it's too expensive to keep buying new ones.

[Tesseract]

I've found that rechargable batteries differ. I have a couple of sets and some last way longer than others. I can't really tell if there's any difference between the longer lasting batteries and the shorter lasting ones other than price. I always use rechargable batteries as it's too expensive to keep buying new ones.

 

Too expensive?, if your zipping through batteries that fast then I think you need a change of habit...

[Phi for All]

Too expensive?, if your zipping through batteries that fast then I think you need a change of habit...

Such as?

 

I know the new nickel-metal hydride are better than nickel-cadmium for recharging, but I'm wondering why common elements like carbon and zinc with some acidic paste as an electrolyte are so expensive! My daughter loves to play with flashlights and has tape recorders, keyboards, you name it and I seem to be buying new batteries like crazy.

[kitten]

My mouse batteries need charging every few days.

 

Yeah, the batteries that I use are nickel-metal hydride. They last much longer.

[Phi for All]

My mouse batteries need charging every few days.

Do you use a wireless mouse or was that a kitten/mouse joke?

Yeah' date=' the batteries that I use are nickel-metal hydride. They last much longer.[/quote']I didn't know they last longer. That's good to know. I heard they don't have that "memory" problem that NiCad does where you have to let them fully discharge before recharging.

[kitten]

Wireless mouse

 

Yeah, they don't appear to have that problem. I just pop them in the recharger whenever the mouse starts behaving sluggishly. I know you can get the problem fixed if you take your batteries to a hardware store. They should have a little device there (forget what it's called) that sends electrical impulses to the battery to restore it back to the original charge capacity.

[Phi for All]

That's also good to know. I didn't think rechargeable technology was very well supported, sort of like solar. They make more money off of us with regular batteries.

 

I hear they've got a new type of plastic that holds a charge that can be made as thin as paper.

[Sayonara]

You know you can buy solar battery chargers now?

http://ecoclub.com/shop/view_product.php?productid=17&idcat=8&idsubcat=0

 

Stick both fingers up at consumer wastefulness at the same time!

[Phi for All]

You know you can buy solar battery chargers now?

http://ecoclub.com/shop/view_product.php?productid=17&idcat=8&idsubcat=0

 

Stick both fingers up at consumer wastefulness at the same time!

What a wonderfully sunny idea!

 

I just love alternative energies!

[Aardvark]

That looks like such an obviously good idea why doesn't everyone have one? Whats the catch?

[Phi for All]

That looks like such an obviously good idea why doesn't everyone have one? Whats the catch?

It only charges 2 AA batteries at a time, so I'm guessing they want you to buy 3 or 4 at 18 Euros each.

 

It's still a great alternative to paying a 10 to 15 times markup (guessing).